Indian-origin philanthropist and president of Hindu Charities for America (HC4A), Harish Kotecha, has been awarded the prestigious Sandra Neese Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY), at its 32nd annual conference on October 9, 2020, in recognition of his work in the US for meeting the needs of children and youth, experiencing homelessness.
The award is presented annually to honour people who have tirelessly worked to ensure that all children may have safety, shelter, and a future that young people without shelter may find the promise of tomorrow.
HC4A has programmes for homeless or near-homeless students, provides school supplies at the start of the school year. It also awards vocational training scholarships to low-income and non-traditional students. More than 550 students have received vocational training scholarships, which pulled them out of poverty into well-paying and meaningful careers.
Sandra Neese Lifetime Achievement Award was established by Community Chest, Inc. in memory of her magnanimous spirit to honour people like Sandra who gave so much of their lives so that young people without shelter may find the promise of tomorrow. Sandra Neese was a founding member of Nevada’s homeless youth education office in 1988. She gave of herself tirelessly for the next 10 years, so that all children in that region may have safety, shelter, and a future. She was a professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, and established a mentor programme for student athletes that thrives to this day. She was also a founding board member of Community Chest, Inc. in 1991.
The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) is a national membership association, dedicated to ensuring educational equity and excellence for children and youth experiencing homelessness. The association connects educators, parents, advocates, researchers, etc., to ensure school enrolment and attendance and overall success for children and youth who were disrupted by the lack of safe, permanent, and adequate housing.
Courtesy: ndtv.com, naehcy.org